Thomas Dennerby offers Nigeria tips to upset Australia in Brisbane

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former head coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, Thomas Dennerby has lent his words of advice to the team as they face 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosts, Australia on Thursday.

The nine-time African champions with a point after a 0-0 draw with Olympic champions in Group B opener on Friday will attempt to outsmart the World Cup co-host in front of their fans.

And the immediate past Indian women’s national team head coach is advising the team to play collectively and thinks about how to make other players better on the field of play.

“Nigerian players would come together as a team, take a decision to do whatever they can every single minute of the game,” Dennerby told Nigeria Info FM Abuja.

“Always think about what to do to make teammates better and help the team in the best way. If every player is ready to think like that, that would be a good thing. The key thing is how you play as a team and not individual sports. Football is a team sport and you need to think as a team member all the time on the pitch.”

The team were rocked with several internal issues, including bonus row, leading to head coach, Randy Waldrum throwing tantrums on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the eve of its opener against Canada with reports of boycotting the game.

“Honestly I haven’t followed that trend and really don’t know what’s going on and what the problem is,” he continued. “One thing that I think is important in whatever it is if there is any kind of misunderstanding or issues, it’s an internal thing. It’s nothing for media at all.”

Captain, Onome Ebi is attending her sixth Women’s World Cup, Dennerby also spoke on the former Minsk FK defender’s historic African record-extending appearance.

“Probably as her Head Coach, I think that she is good enough.” He added. “She can play. Sorry that I haven’t seen them play for more than three years now so it’s really hard for me to give a proper assessment of any of the players.

“I have seen a few of them play in Europe but I don’t know so much about them for the moment to give you a good answer but of course, if Head Coach thinks you are good enough, you are probably good enough because he had the full overview that I don’t have.”

On the chances of other African players, Dennerby insists Nigeria has a good chance of progressing from the group ahead of other teams from the continent.

“Maybe Zambia that beat Germany 3-2 a few days ago. This time I think it’s going to be a little bit tougher for South Africa in a tough group. Morocco are definitely developing women’s football very rapidly I would say.

“Playing the World Cup for the first time, it’s tough to beat a top team. I hope they can have good performances. I really hope Nigeria will have a super good tournament. They have a good chance,” he concluded.